Squash, (genus Cucurbita) is a genus of flowering vines in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), many of which are widely cultivated as vegetables and for livestock feed. Squashes are native to the New World, where they were cultivated by native peoples before European settlement. The fruit of edible species is usually served as a cooked vegetable, and the seeds and blossoms may also be cooked and eaten. Squash is botanically classified as a fruit but in cooking it is viewed as a vegetable.
Squash – Photo By Salim_Khandoker – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73331273
Some Types of Squash
Red Squashes (Cucurbita maxima) and Butternut Squashes (Cucurbita moschata) – Photo By George Chernilevsky – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72564737
There are many types of squash and they all look different but the taste is very similar.
- Acorn
- Butternut (Common Winter Squash)
- Calabaza (Also called West Indian Pumpkin)
- Delicata (Also called Sweet Potato Squash)
- Hubbard (Largest Winter Varieties)
- Kabocha (Pumpkin-shaped Japanese Squash)
- Pumpkin
- Spaghetti
- Sweet Dumpling
- Buttercup (Not to be confused with butternut)
- Carnival (A combination of acorn and sweet dumpling)
- Banana (Named after the fruit for its colour and shape)
- Chinese Long Squash (Like the ones we have in Guyana)
Did you know?
If stored properly, uncut squash will keep for up to a month.
Scientific Classification
- Scientific name: Cucurbita
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Rosids
- Order: Cucurbitales
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Tribe: Cucurbiteae
- Genus: Cucurbita
Squash in Guyana
The squash in Guyana is known as bottle gourd or long melon, but it is simply called squash. Inside of the squash is filled with seeds and a spongy, whitish center. The squash is usually cut in parcels, the skin is peeled off and the seeds are dug out. The squash is then diced and thrown into a bowl. A delicious dish enjoyed by many Guyanese is their stewed squash with chicken.
Tip:
- Squash contains a lot of water and when slowly cooked, the juices are released forming a tasty gravy.
Stewed Squash with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 large squash, chopped
- 1/2 lb chicken, cut
- tomatoes
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 stems eschalot, chopped
- 1 hot pepper, sliced
- 1 tbsp bouillon cubes (Maggi)
- tomato paste
- salt
- oil
Method
- Heat oil in a skillet and saute onions, garlic and pepper.
- Add chicken and allow to cook for a few minutes.
- Then add squash and tomato paste, coating the chicken evenly.
- Next add eschalot, Maggi cubes and cover with water.
- Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool before eating.
Stewed Squash – Photo – By J Doll – Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73859275
How to Prepare the Saltfish for the Squash:
The saltfish is usually very salty so its needs to be boiled before it can be used. After boiling, clean the saltfish by removing excess bones. Squeeze half of a lime over it and mix together, shredding the saltfish. It requires some extra work but the taste will reward you.
Method:
Add oil to the pan, add in onions and sauté until translucent, add thyme and cook for 1 minute. Then add the garlic, tomatoes, wiri wiri pepper, and salt to taste; sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. After, add shredded saltfish, tossing to mix and reduce heat to low. Let it cook for 5 to 7 minutes tossing every 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooked squash 1 minute before saltfish is completely cooked. Stir to combine.
Curry Squash with Chicken
Another way to enjoy squash is with curry. Guyanese enjoy their cultural curry squash with chicken.
Ingredients
- 1 large squash
- 1/2 lb chicken, cut
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 stems eschalot, chopped
- 2 wiri wiri pepper, chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp. curry powder
- 1 tsp. garam masala
- 1 tsp. ground geera
- salt
- oil
Method:
- Wash and peel the squash.
- Slice it into rings of about an inch thick, remove seeds and cut into cubes.
- Wash and clean chicken.
- Add garam masala, curry powder, and geera to a bowl and mix. Add water to make into a paste.
- Heat oil in a pad.
- Saute onion.
- Add curry paste and allow to cook for a few minutes.
- Add the chicken and fry for two minutes, stirring continuously.
- Next, add squash and salt and allow to cook.
- Add eschallot and stir.
- Remove from heat after a few minutes.
Squash in Guyana
Squash is eaten in a variety of ways in Guyana; it can be stewed or curried. Whichever way you choose to cook it, squash is yummy and it is sure to satisfy your taste buds. You can have stewed squash with chicken, shrimp or saltfish; or you can have curry squash with chicken or shrimp or even beef. Squash can be eaten with rice, oil roti or sada roti; husbands especially enjoy this dish with roti after a long day of work. The squashes in Guyana are usually greenish, some are mixed with a little white; some are long while some are round like a ball. Squash is cooked, eaten and enjoyed by many in Guyana.
Article References:
- https://www.realniceguyana.com/recipes/squash-with-chicken-curry/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squash
- https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/common-types-winter-squash
- https://www.plated.com/morsel/8-types-squash-cooking-often/
- https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squash_(plant)
Last Updated: 2020-07-15
